Auburn earns its first SEC win with 30-27 victory over Kentucky

Peyton Barber rushed for two short touchdowns, including a three-yarder with 7:56 remaining, helping Auburn outlast Kentucky, 30-27, Thursday night and earn its first Southeastern Conference victory.

Sorely needing a conference win in hopes of contending in the West division, the Tigers (4-2, 1-2 SEC) started and closed strong behind Barber, who rushed for a one-yard touchdown on their opening drive. His second score was the biggest, providing a critical buffer against Mikel Horton’s one-yard touchdown run with 4:06 left that brought Kentucky within a field goal.

Barber finished with 92 yards in 26 carries, and Kerryon Johnson added 36 yards, including a six-yard touchdown. Sean White threw for 255 yards, 154 to Ricardo Louis as the Tigers won their ninth straight in Lexington.

Kentucky’s final attempt to at least tie the game ended with quarterback Patrick Towles being sacked on fourth down with 25 seconds left.

Auburn was outgained, 497-407, but made several timely plays of both sides of the ball, including the defensive stand that denied Kentucky three yards on two plays on its final drive.

Auburn hasn’t always played like that after starting the season ranked sixth before falling out of the top 25, but the Tigers made Kentucky (4-2, 2-2) play catch-up all night and maintained its dominance at Commonwealth Stadium.

Magic statue vandalized

A statue of Earvin “Magic” Johnson on the campus of Michigan State University has been vandalized with yellow paint ahead of the Spartans’ football game against rival Michigan.

The statue of the former NBA and Michigan State basketball star is outside the Breslin Center in East Lansing. It had an “M” and the words “BEAT STATE” painted on it. Michigan’s colors are maize and blue.

Etc.

Brandon Doughty passed for 350 yards and four touchdowns, and Anthony Wales had 259 total yards and three touchdowns to help Western Kentucky beat North Texas, 55-28, for its seventh straight Conference USA victory. … North Carolina cornerbacks M.J. Stewart and Mike Hughes have been suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules, sidelining them for Saturday’s game against Wake Forest. … Khalid Thomas rushed for 138 yards and three touchdowns to help Alabama State beat Arkansas Pine Bluff, 31-24.